NOMADIC THREAD SOCIETY
is a Celebration of
Slow, Considered Design
Global Cultural Heritage
Fine Handwoven Textiles
Sustainability and Ethical Commerce
Independent, Niche Business
Since 2009
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Hello! It’s Nicole, founder of NTS.
Welcome back, welcome.
For years I’ve been focused on the most contemporary,
fairly-made and traded, fine artisan work.
With a keen eye for the “it” things, I’ve always been a supporter of nimble, indie brands.
SLOW DESIGN, CULTURE & BUSINESS are what I’m cultivating these days.
A very exciting new offering is underway;
Professional retreats offering lived experience and immersive education in sustainability.
DESIGN & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT services are blossoming as well – including CONSCIOUS BRAND & ARTIST ACTIVATIONS – along with a consulting and mentoring practice for mission driven, indie entrepreneurs and small businesses in the global handmade sector.
Follow nomadicthreadsociety on IG for latest moves, sustainable shopping recommendations, trip stories, textile reports, design inspirations, events, and general life and mission updates!
The BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL is a good place to peruse for a rolling history of company doings.
And the WEBSHOP is still doing it’s thing, delivering fine handmade wearables and decor that reflect a natural ease- with a little edge and a healthy dose of sustainability.
MISSION + FOUNDER ~a deeper dive ~
Nomadic Thread Society has been quite the trip.
It sprang from a sandy-footed, seaside chat with a fellow fashion pro on vacation in Tulum 2008. “How’d you get like that?” she asked, a tipsy question aimed at my chilled beach look, kaftan and artisan cloths flowing in the breeze, telling stories of far off lands.
A year later, I was a company, with a small collection of beautiful heritage textile accessories from India, Kenya, Mexico, UK – and Nomadic Thread Society was off on a 13+ year adventure. Early curations from existing global finery matured to produce collaborative, original designs. Smart lifestyle shops and of-the-moment retailers came knocking – Steven Allen, Malia Mills, Bird, Free People. Vogue, Remodelista, and Rachel Zoe noticed what I was doing. Signature sarong towels, alpaca blanket capes, handwoven ikat maxi-shirts, and eco sheepskin meditation cushions made it into holiday gift lists and bohemian chic closets in NY, LA, London, Sidney, Tokyo and beyond.
I gravitated towards conscious design and business practices from the start, digging into working with heritage textiles in developing communities around the world. Support of artisanship, fair trade, and sustainability became company ethos. Working from the heart, my business concept coincided with the emerging redirection of global fashion.
In 2018 Nomadic Thread Society began to pivot as a company, as passion for style and design turned ever more towards social good through entrepreneurship. I began to work more actively in support and development of other creative, sustainable, independent businesses – from artisans, to entrepreneurs to established, mission driven brands. Working with Aid to Artisans in their Market Readiness Program, offering mentorship to budding entrepreneurs through Start Small, Think Big, consulting one-on-one for a roster of bright talent in varied creative fields – I’m looking forward to being ever more of service. LinkedIn
That brings us back to 2022! In addition to consulting, there are online courses in the works for independent creatives and entrepreneurs created from yours truly’s “every-hat-wearing” point of view. I’m still doing my job delivering beautiful bits to my customers 😉 – curating special pieces and collections directly from my favorite ethical brands and artisan makers around the globe. You can shop them in the refreshed WebShop.
Perhaps most exciting of all – SLOW DESIGN & BUSINESS IMMERSIONS are underway – purpose driven professional retreats supplying active educations in the business of sustainability and conscious lifestyle.
Nomadic Thread Society has stocked the following retailers:
usa::
ATOMIC GARDEN | Oakland, CA
BIRD | Brooklyn, NY
BLISS | Portland, ME + Portsmouth, NH
DE MARCHIN | Hudson, NY
ERICA TANOV | NY + CA
EVERYTHING BUT WATER | East Hampton, NY
FREE PEOPLE | USA
KAIGHT | Brooklyn, NY
LENCERIA BOUTIQUE | West Hollywood, CA
LOST AND FOUND | LA, CA
MALIA MILLS | NY
MATHES LAND & CATTLE | Savannah, GA
MOHAWK GENERAL STORE | LA, CA
MOLLUSK | Venice and Silver Lake, LA + San Francisco, CA
NICOLA’S HOME | Yarmouth, Maine
OSKAR’S BOUTIQUE | Kauai, Hawaii
PILGRIM SURF & SUPPLY | NY
SCOSHA | Brooklyn, NY
SCHREINER GOODS | Kerrville, TX
SERAFINA | San Marino, CA
STEVEN ALAN | NYC
SURF BAZAAR | Montauk, NY
THE ACE HOTEL | Palm Springs, CA.
THE SHOP | Laguna Beach, CA
THEFIELD.COM
VAGABOND | Philadelphia, PA
international::
BIOTOP | Tokyo, Japan
DAKE’S SHOPPE | Harbor Island, Bahamas
FRAMEWORK | Tokyo, Japan
HENRYKS | Vienna, Austria
ISETAN | Tokyo, Japan
LOL TULUM BOUTIQUE | Tulum, Mexico
OROCAPRI | Capri, Italy
THOMAS-I-PUNKT | Hamburg, Germany
WANDERLUST | Tulum, Mexico
Press
Our Pisac Manta in upper right corner profiled in Trendbible.com’s Tribal Gathering 2017 industry trend publication.




Development, Sourcing, and Private Label Clients:
BEAUTYCOUNTER
NATUROPATHICA
ANTONY TODD
EXA
HEARTWORK
EVERYTHING BUT WATER
ARC OF KRAFTS | LOOM
AISH
THE SABAH DEALER